Think Like A Vegan

I was drawn to this book by the title. I realised straight away that I didn’t know what it meant to “think like a vegan”, despite one of my best friends being a vegan. I think, if I’m being brutally honest, it’s a conversation we have never had because I (as a meat eater) would come out of it looking rather bad.

Blurb:

According to the latest figures, the number of vegans in the UK has more than quadrupled since 2014, now representing over 1 per cent of the total population. With the rise in plant-based foods and cruelty-free products showing no sign of stopping, Think Like a Vegan explores how vegan ethics can be applied to every area of our daily lives.

We all want to live more healthily and ethically, and this book is certainly not just for vegans. It’s for anyone interested in veganism, its ideals and what even non-vegans can learn from its practice. Through a personal and often irreverent lens, the authors explore a variety of contemporary topics related to animal use: from the basics of vegan logic to politics, economics, love and other aspects of being human, each chapter draws you into a thought-provoking conversation about your daily ethical decisions.

Why should we adopt animals?
What’s the problem with organic meat?
What are the economics of plant-based foods?
What about honey?
What is the relationship between veganism and feminism?
What is vegansexualism?

My thoughts:

This has definitely been an eye-opening and thought-provoking read. It has explored the topic of veganism in a way I hadn’t really expected. The writer argues that veganism is a form of equality, and that in years to come, humanity will have a moment of realisation and revelation, much like we did when it comes to feminism, racial equality etc. However, by drawing those parallels the writer also makes it clear that this is not going to be an easy feat.

If you read between the lines, there is definitely the inference that meat eaters are selfish, immoral etc, however I liked the fact that the book is respectfully written in a way that avoids these ‘labels’ or assumptions.

This book has definitely got me thinking about my own place in the world and the legacy I want to leave for my children. I was also surprised to learn about being vegansexual, and the differences between a “plant based diet” and veganism as a lifestyle choice and moral code.

I liked the use of the inclusive “we” to discuss the vegan community, that allowed me an insider view. I appreciated the fact that the authors accepted that veganism is not always the easy choice to make, and that often being a meat eater is rooted in culture, traditions and family life, that especially at a young age, we often have little control over.

I would recommend this book to fans of accessible and informative non-fiction. I always find the sheer amount and variety of non-fiction books out there quite overwhelming but I am definitely glad I picked this one. It has definitely provided food for thought!